Includes 5 key exam questions for the education module in sociology. consists of 2 4 markers, 2 6 markers and a 10 marker. Received an A when I submitted these to my teacher who marked them and then gave me feedback which I used to improve these answers
1. Outline two factors external to schools that may affect social class differences in
educational achievement (4 marks)
One factor external to schools that may affect educational achievement is cultural deprivation.
Bernstein argues that working class children tend to fall behind in the education system due to
the lack of language skills. Working class kids use the restricted code which is sometimes
grammatically incorrect with basic vocabulary compared to the elaborated code used in the
education system which consists of extensive and detailed language.
Another factor is poverty and home circumstances. Washbrook looked at living conditions and
success and found that poorer students usually live in more crowded spaces which makes it
difficult for them to study therefore they fall behind on things such as homework.
2. Outline two criticisms of schools selecting pupils by ability (4)
Schools selecting by ability are more likely to benefit middle class children as middle class
parents are able to pay for tutors and coaching for their children so that they are able to do well
in exams.
Tests used to select pupils might be culturally biased as the language used is likely to be biased
against working class and minority ethnic groups. This is more likely to be the elaborate code of
descriptive language and speech.
3. Outline three functions that the education system performs for society (6 marks)
One function that education performs for society is that it creates social solidarity which is where
an individual feels like they are part of something bigger, working towards the collective good.
School does this by teaching everyone the national curriculum such as the same topics in
history and english which helps create a sense of national identity.
Another function is that it maintains social order, by performing a social control function.
Education does this by requiring that all students attend and through surveillance, any student
who does not conform is subject to disciplinary procedures, thus learning to stick to the rules
later in life.
Lastly, education gets students ready for work. It starts off by teaching basic reading and writing
which all jobs require and later on it gives students specific job related skills such as taking
biology gets you ready for a career in medicine.
4. Outline three criticisms of the functionalist view on education (6 marks)
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